MARION, Va. — A new nonprofit organization, the Watchdog Group of Marion, Virginia, has officially formed with a mission to promote transparency, accountability, and open government in the Town of Marion and surrounding localities.
The group, comprised entirely of concerned citizens, regularly attends public meetings of all kinds — including Marion Town Council sessions, work sessions, committee meetings, economic development gatherings, and, on occasion, Smyth County Board of Supervisors meetings.
Their members monitor local government activity, policy changes, and decisions affecting the community.
The organization formally became a nonprofit in September after growing public interest and a need for more structured citizen oversight. According to the group, several recent stories published by Three County News helped bring attention to issues such as the costs associated with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and the town of Marion’s activities concerning citizens, ordinances and more.
One instance involved a $508.66 fee charged by the Town of Marion for video records related to a property abatement case. Once the videos were obtained, the footage allegedly revealed potential misconduct by town employees. The Watchdog Group says these situations highlighted the need for financial assistance for residents facing similar barriers to information access.
An anonymous donor, recognizing the group’s work, encouraged the establishment of nonprofit status and provided a significant contribution earmarked for future legal action against the Town of Marion. Additional donations have since been received and are allocated as needs are reviewed and verified by the organization.
“Our goal is simple,” a representative of the Watchdog Group said. “We want to ensure that local government remains accountable to the people it serves and that the public stays informed about the policies, ordinances, and decisions shaping our community.”
Recently, the group has faced criticism in local media. A Smyth County News & Messenger article published earlier this month stated, “For the better part of the last two years, the council and its staff have been at the center of ongoing criticism from a small group of citizens that have disparaged town operations and policies.”
In response, the Watchdog Group released an open letter, now available on their Facebook page at facebook.com/WatchDogsOfMarion pinned to the top of the page under their featured items.
The future of the group appears to include possible expansion. The group has had inquiries from the hosts of podcasts and other citizen driven groups for participation.
If you would like to make a donation to the group, you may mail it to: Watchdog Group of Marion Virginia, P.O. Box 251, Atkins VA 24311.
Presently the organization does not take online donations due to fees charged and the desire that every dollar donated gets put toward the cause. The organization’s members are completely volunteer and donate their time to do research, make phone calls, perform research, make information requests and a variety of other activities in order to make the most of every dollar donated.
